My Favorite Session Locations - Las Vegas Newborn and Family Photographer

Las Vegas Nevada Family Photographer. I’ve been in Las Vegas for exactly TWO years now! Therefore, I’m officially an expert in the BEST locations for your family session. I hope you sense a lot of sarcasm there. Scouting locations is a major part of being a photographer. There are places that I want to try but haven’t, and probably so many places I’ve never heard of, stumbled upon, or considered going to. However, I have done my fair share of scouting so far, these are simply my favs!

My first favorite place will always be your home. Please, please, please don’t be scared to do an in-home session. The focus is on your family, not your interior design skills. These images are for you and your kiddos to look back on. Decades from now, you’ll more than likely not be in the same home or even same city. However, you’ll look at the images and remember all the memories that a home can have. It really is sentimental. Personally, I haven’t had an in-home session, but I so wish I could go back in time and get one done at our home in Texas. It’s where we brought our babies home, where they crawled on the floors, where we held the most amazing impromptu parties with our neighbors, and so many other memories.

Let’s venture outside.

Symphony Park is in Downtown LV. I LOVE this place! So colorful, green grass (like real grass, not turf), room to run. It just really embodies my style. So perfect for a kiddo milestone or family sessions.

I absolutely love going to the Dry Lake Bed. This was new for me recently to try out. The place is so big and open, I was kind of intimidated by the whole location. Woah, was I missing out! It is the perfect backdrop for family sessions. The dry lake bed is basically a blank canvas. If you like to dress in bright colors and fun prints, this is the place to get your session done! And what can I say about the lighting? In a span of 20 minutes, you’ll get bright sun, golden hour (like golden 10 minutes) and then cool hues of sun behind the mountains. Just gorgeous!! If you hire me and want to go outside, let’s go here!

Downtown Las Vegas is such a fun spot, but I must admit I have only done senior sessions there. The sidewalks are colorful, new murals are always popping up, funky alley ways, and then I’ll make you go to the top of a parking garage for a few more pics. Trust me, parking garage pics are fun!

I started venturing to Mt. Charleston this fall for family sessions, and I fell in love. When the Aspen trees turn golden, it is a completely different world up there. October is definitely the month to book your session there. There were colorful flowers, pops of pink and purple, yellow flowering bushes everywhere, green and golden leaves, it was literally magical! That’s where I WAS going to have my own family’s pictures taken, until Little League changed our plans, I’m not over it. 😤

Of course, there are so many other places that are beautiful in and around Las Vegas, but when clients choose one of these, I do a happy dance. Want to have a session at one of these amazing locations and make me happy dance? Let’s chat!

Las Vegas Newborn Photographer - The Difference Between Newborn and Fresh 48 Sessions

Documenting the arrival of a new baby to your family is so important, and there are several ways to do that. In the last few months, I have started to offer Fresh 48 Sessions, and I have gotten this question several times, “ What is the difference between Newborn and Fresh 48 Sessions? Well, let me explain.

Fresh 48 Sessions are done in hospital, within the first 48 hours (typically) of baby being born. I will come to you, at the hospital, and just capture those first snuggles, the tiny baby details, and tell the very beginning story of baby. These are definitely more of a documentary style of images. Fresh 48 Sessions are especially sweet if there is an older sibling that gets to hold baby for the first time. These are just timeless memories that you will want to look back on for years and years. All images in this blog are from a Fresh 48 session.

Anecdotal story…I wish I had done these with my babies, especially when I had my youngest. We knew he would be our last baby. When he was born, I completely missed when he got to meet his sisters. I was in the bathroom, with numb legs, having a nurse help with bathroom stuff. The girls came in the room, saw baby brother, snuggled him, held him, and I missed it. Yes, it’s on a cell phone. Will I ever frame that? No. Do I wish I had been able to coordinate it and have a memory framed on my wall from it? Absolutely.

Newborn Sessions are in your home. These sessions document this new chapter in your life. I photograph baby in crib, mom rocking baby in the nursery, family snuggled together on parent’s bed, laughing in the kitchen, etc. I will do my best to tell your true authentic family story. These are done when baby is about 4-8 weeks old. At this timeframe, mom has had time to heal from birth. Baby is gaining back some weight and starting to fill out and look more like themselves. Fingers crossed cluster feeding has settled down. Parents and siblings have had a chance to adjust to a new baby in the home. Check out THIS BLOG for examples of an in home newborn session and what you can expect at your in home session.

Have you been told that you need to have newborn pictures done in the first 10 days? I was told that with my first and this is a myth. For posed newborn sessions, they run smoothly when baby is sleeping. I, however, don’t do posed newborn sessions. Since mine are lifestyle, there is no pressure to have a sleeping baby. If baby is crying and needs to be rocked? Great, I will capture that! It’s real life and it is beautiful!

So what session should you book? Of course I suggest both. Baby will change so much in those first few months and a newborn in the hospital and at home are both wonderful occasions to photograph. Both sessions will offer beautiful wall art and photo albums to be enjoyed for decades and generations. I hope this has helped you understand the difference between At-Home Newborn Sessions and Fresh 48 Sessions.

Las Vegas Family Photography- Yes, It’s 110 Degrees, But Let’s Have a Session- Alyssa Charboneau Photography

You read right. There are so many reasons to have a family session, in the heat of a Las Vegas summer, and I’m not crazy. Actually, I prefer to do my own family’s sessions in the summer.

First of all, let’s address the big sweaty elephant. The temperature. Let’s do an inside session!! Your home is where your memories are made and where you’ll back in pictures and remember raising your kiddos. These sessions are not just for newborn sessions. In-home sessions are really so special and intimate. Added bonus, I come to you! No need to drive across town, trying not to wrinkle outfits, stuck in traffic, etc. We’ve all been there. And yes, my family is that family that is always running late, forgetting my lip gloss, screaming at kids to hurry and buckle up. 🤦🏻‍♀️ So in-home is just so much more relaxed, not rushed, and AIR CONDITIONED!!! Click HERE for a blog post featuring an in-home session.

Studio sessions are also an option. I love this option, and have done studio sessions with my own family. A nice, crisp white background, a pop of color with furniture, lends to a classic yet modern twist on a family session. These are perfect for mini sessions, milestones, and childhood personality sessions. Also, AIR CONDITIONED!! I love to use The Gathering Place for studio sessions here in Las Vegas.

Second, you will beat the craziness of fall. Think about it, kids go back to school, sports schedules are insane, throw in dance, gymnastics, theatre, whatever your kiddos have going on. Do you really want to cram a photo session in there too? Just make sure it’s not during a Raiders game, right? So right now, kiddos are home, maybe you can schedule a weekday session, and keep those fall weekends as open as possible. Then when everyone else is rushing to find a last minute photographer and print cards, you can sit back and give yourself a pat on the back.

Third, it’s a money saver! You can take advantage of early bird sales on card printing websites. If you are wanting to frame wall art as well, summer is a great time for sales. I know a lot of photographers will offer incentives on summer sessions as well because it is typically a slower season. Also, photographers tend to increase prices for the fall season, simply because demand is so high. This is kind of a no brainer. I prefer Minted for my Christmas cards.

Fourth and last, the style of your session. This is a huge reason I love summer sessions. Personally, I don’t want to frame a photo of my family in sweaters and boots. We are spring and summer people and I want our style to reflect that. I love summer dresses (like I have a major problem with buying summer dresses), cute sandals, and bright colors. This fits our personality and our style. Are you wanting to have a more winter or fall feel for Christmas cards? Then schedule a mini with your photographer. However, when it comes to framing wall art that will hang for years to come, I want a timeless style that suits our personalities.

There you have it! Why I love summer sessions as a mom and as a photographer. So take a look at your calendar, check in with your photographer (or me 😉) and don’t sweat your families photography session. Get it?!?!

Need wardrobe inspiration? Click HERE.